| Sub-title | |
| Authors | Y Muscat Baron M Z Mangion M Formosa R Galea M P Brincat |
| Abstract | Two recent trials indicated that progesterone may be useful in preventing preterm labour in high risk patients. Both treatments have their problems especially in assuring compliance. A possible alternative is dydrogestrone which is a progestin in oral form. Dydrogesterone is used in cases of miscarriage with significant success. The rationale of this study is that preterm labour is a continuum of pregnancy loss similar to miscarriage differing in that it occurs at a later stage. Dydrogesterone has also been implicated in reducing the incidence of pre-eclampsia a common cause of preterm delivery. Methods: Patients were recruited from two firms which have a significant input from the miscarriage clinic and SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society). These were patients with recurrent miscarriage, neonatal death related to preterm labour or preterm delivery due to medical conditions such as pre-eclampsia. Also included were a number of women with multiple pregnancies. These women opted to continue dydrogesterone beyond 22 weeks until 34 weeks in an effort to avoid preterm delivery. Results: The high risk group parameters were compared to a group of contemporaneous women at low risk and the background population. Preterm delivery occurred in 5 out of 58 (8.6%) women at high risk of preterm delivery compared to 7 out of 120 (5.8%) in the low risk group. The occurrence of preterm delivery in the Maltese population is 5.4% similar to the low risk group. Conclusion: Dydrogesterone appears to attenuate the incidence of preterm delivery in the high risk group assessed in this study. The above results may be due to the immunomodulatory properties exerted by dydrogesterone possibly preventing preterm labour and reducing the onset of pre-eclampsia. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 18 Supplement |
| Page | |
| Date | 01/12/2006 |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | dydrogesterone, preterm delivery, prevention |